Mercy, IND rivalry tunes up for 42nd showdown

The Towson Center Arena will be streaming red and blue on Jan. 25 as the 42nd meeting, known as “The Game,” of the Institute of Notre Dame and Mercy High School tips off at 7:30 p.m.

It’s quite an event and packed to capacity year after year, despite the Towson Center Arena’s ability to seat 5,000 fans.

Promoting school spirit and alumnae pride at the Baltimore schools, this game brings to light all that encompasses local girls’ basketball talent each year. The basketball rivalry began in 1967, and it has continually attracted the largest crowd to view a high school girls’ basketball game in Maryland.

The inaugural meeting took place in the Baltimore Civic Center, now the 1st Mariner Arena, with IND winning 31-23. Over the years the venue has changed, usually to accommodate the growing number of fans, but the pageantry surrounding the event makes it more than just one more game on the schedule for both teams.

Fast-forwarding to Jan. 20, 2008, both the Mercy Magic (9-1, 14-2) and the Institute of Notre Dame Indians (2-8, 2-9) compete within the IAAM A Conference.

In their first regular season meeting in this 2007-2008 season, the Mercy Magic rolled over the Indians by a brutal score of 73-23. The Magic are led by their point guard, senior Khadija Mitchell, and the Indians are led by 6-foot-2-inch senior Caitlin Bopp, just recently back to the team after recovering from an appendectomy.

Going back to the 2007 match-up, Mercy defeated the Indians 47-34 to extend their lead of “The Game” to 25 wins and 16 losses. Prior to that, the Indians clicked off four straight wins from 2003-2006.

The 42nd contest will take place at the Towson Center on Jan. 25. Pre-game festivities will begin at 7 p.m. with the tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at both schools. Regular seating is $8 in advance and $10 at the door, and preferred alum seating is $10 in advance and $12 at the door.

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